US judge orders Catholic organisation to release documents

on 24/01/2013 08:47:44

A US judge ordered the unsealing of documents related to a disgraced Catholic organisation called the Legion of Christ as it faces questions about its relationship to wealthy elderly patrons, but the religious order immediately moved to block it.

Superior Court Judge Michael Silverstein called the public's right to fully scrutinise the documents "paramount".

The Associated Press, The New York Times, The Providence Journal and the National Catholic Reporter had asked the judge to unseal the documents, which are from a lawsuit filed by a woman contesting the will of a wealthy aunt who left the Legion of Christ US$60m (€45m).